The key to the race — and the big change for this year — is track position resulting from the pit stop before the final 10-lap dash to the finish.

Last year, drivers entered pit road with the winners of the first four segments at the front of field and the rest in the order of finish from the fourth segment.

This year, drivers will enter pit road according to their average finish from the first four segments. That will keep the winner of the first segment (Johnson last year) from sandbagging during the remaining three segments.

“When you look at last year and (Johnson’s) guys won and did exactly what (they) needed to do to pull off that win with the rules that they were given to work with,” NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton said.

“I'm just going to go out there and race as hard as I can, lead every lap, win every segment.”

Here are some other rules for the 29th Sprint All-Star race:

• Qualifying will be three laps with a mandatory four-tire pit stop. There is no speed limit on pit road.

• Qualifying results will determine the order of pit-stall selection because there is no pit-crew challenge this year.

• Caution laps count in the first four 20-lap segments but only green-flag laps count in the final 10.

• There will be five caution laps following the first, second and third segments. Drivers can pit but would lose track position.

• When setting the order for how drivers will come down pit road before the final segment, if there is a tie in average finish, ties will be broken by the finish of the fourth segment.

• The Sprint Showdown event for those not qualified for the all-star race will be 40 laps, with two 20-lap segments and an optional pit stop between them. All laps count. Qualifying is the traditional best of two laps.

The field for the Sprint All-Star Race features 22 drivers from the following eligibility requirements: